“Are you hungry?” he asked, gently leading her across the room.
She nodded.
“I am,” she said, smiling.
Val helped her sit on the sofa. Then, he sat down beside her. She could hear him scooping some food onto a plate for her. Then, he took her hands with one of his and placed the plate in her hands with the other.
“Thank you,” she said sweetly.
Val patted her shoulder.
“My pleasure,” he said.
They ate in comfortable silence for a moment. Then she could hear Val put his plate on the table and shift himself closer to her.
“I am going into the village later this morning,” he said. “Would you like to join me?”
Cecily’s heart leapt. She had been hoping he would invite her on another adventure. She smiled brightly at him and nodded once more.
“I would love to,” she said.
Val chuckled, and he patted her hand.
“Wonderful,” he said. “You finish up breakfast and then freshen up, if you like. I should be ready to leave within the next hour or so.”
Cecily’s smile brightened. She wanted to tell Val how much she had enjoyed the time they were spending together. However, she could not risk hindering the delicate bond that was forming between them.
“I will be ready,” she said instead.
Val patted her shoulder again. She heard him depart and smelled Greta approaching.
“This is so exciting,” she said. “I know you must be thrilled about going into the village.”
Cecily nodded, embracing her maid.
“Oh, isn’t it wonderful?” she asked.
Greta sat beside her, and Cecily could feel her friend’s eyes on her.
“Do you mean the trip to town?” she asked playfully. “Or are you referring to something else?”
Cecily giggled wildly.
“I mean everything,” she said. “I have never been so happy in my whole life.”
Greta sighed.
“I believe the same can be said for his Grace,” she said. “He has always been kind, but something has changed in him since the two of you married. Even the other servants say as much.”
Cecily blushed. She didn’t want to presume that she could have such an effect on her husband. But he did seem to be filled with more joy and enthusiasm for life each time she spoke with him. And they spent more and more time together each day. Had she, in fact, elicited this change in Val?
A short time later, Greta escorted her back upstairs to freshen up for her trip to town. She considered changing into an even nicer dress, just to look her best for the occasion. But she finally settled on Greta simply loosening her hair a little so that half of it cascaded down her back in wispy ringlets and the other half was pinned with two diamond butterfly hair pins.
When she was ready, Greta escorted her back down the stairs, where the Duke was just approaching. Cecily could hear his footsteps and she turned to face his direction and smiled at him.
“You look lovely, Cecily,” Val said as Greta stepped away to allow him to take her arm. “Are you ready?”
Cecily nodded, her previous excitement swelling in her chest.
